Oakland is a borough in northern Bergen County, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City set in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains along the Ramapo River. The 2020 census counted 12,748 residents. The borough's history stretches back to the 18th century, when it was a farming and lumbering area whose mills ran on the waters of the Ramapo River and its streams; that water-rich landscape still shapes the town, from Crystal Lake and nearby reservoirs to the wooded hills that frame its neighborhoods. Oakland's residential character is distinctly suburban and semi-rural, with large lots, mature trees, and lake communities. The Ramapo Mountain Lakes association encompasses roughly 1,650 homes across more than forty streets, while the Ramapo River Reserve adds several hundred newer homes — together a substantial share of the borough's roughly 4,400 homes. This gives Oakland a lake-community feel unusual in Bergen County. The borough is well connected for commuters. Interstate 287, Route 208, and U.S. Route 202 run through or near the borough, and Coach USA's Short Line provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. The location balances a quiet, wooded setting with access to Bergen County's commercial corridors and the wider New York metropolitan area. Education is provided by Oakland Public Schools for kindergarten through eighth grade, with elementary schools including Dogwood Hill, Heights, and Manito, and Valley Middle School. High school students attend Indian Hills High School in the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional district, shared with Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff. For residents, Oakland combines a historic, water-centered landscape, spacious neighborhoods, and practical access to the region's employment centers.